that got me thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

"that got me thinking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something sparked an idea or mental reflection in you. For example: "He asked me an intriguing question that got me thinking about the issue from a different perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Here are five that got me thinking this year.

University of California, Berkeley

He explained: "Beau asked me a little while back, 'Are you and mummy married?' And that got me thinking.

Independent

So that's the basic skill set that got me thinking, "Well, of course women would want to buy clothes online".

The New York Times

The one that got me thinking, however, was a study of more than a million Medicare patients.

The New Yorker

So that got me thinking: what are the greatest secret libraries of all time?

The Guardian

"When the justice center went up, on a site that was sitting empty for eight years, that got me thinking.

The New York Times

So that got me thinking: What other shows could the Met put on to bring the male demographic in?

The New York Times

So that got me thinking about the NYTimes.

TechCrunch

That was the inspiration that got me thinking about Bou, the rest is history.

Forbes

I had a wake-up call this weekend that got me thinking about my career.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jake: I'm interested in anything that gets me thinking.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "that got me thinking" with a clear and concise explanation of the thought or conclusion you arrived at, ensuring the connection between the initial stimulus and your subsequent reflection is evident.

Common error

While "that got me thinking" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "this prompted me to consider" or "this raised questions in my mind."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that got me thinking" serves as an idiomatic expression to introduce a thought or reflection that was prompted by a previous statement, event, or observation. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that got me thinking" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression to introduce a personal reflection or insight. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s perfectly suitable for written English. It is versatile, appearing across various contexts such as news, academia, and less formal business settings. When using it, ensure you clearly explain the connection between the triggering event and the subsequent thought process. While useful, it should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy in your writing. Alternatives like "that made me wonder" or "that prompted me to consider" can provide variety and maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that made me reflect on

This alternative shows the speaker reflecting on something specific.

that made me wonder

This phrase implies a sense of curiosity and contemplation.

that prompted me to consider

This alternative emphasizes a more deliberate and thoughtful consideration.

that set me pondering

This alternative suggests a more prolonged and reflective state of thinking.

that sparked my interest

This alternative suggests something ignited curiosity, leading to further thought.

that gave me pause

This phrase means that something caused a moment of reflection or hesitation.

that raised a question in my mind

This phrase indicates that something arose a doubt in the speaker.

that inspired me to think about

This phrase suggests an inspiration behind the thinking.

that put me on the path of thinking

This alternative explains that something puts the speaker in direction of thinking.

that led me to believe

This alternative suggests that something caused a change of mind, leading into a new belief.

FAQs

How can I use "that got me thinking" in a sentence?

"That got me thinking" is used to introduce a thought or reflection that was prompted by something else. For example, "The article about climate change /s/that+got+me+thinking about my own carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to "that got me thinking"?

You can use alternatives like "that made me wonder", "that prompted me to consider", or "that sparked my interest" depending on the context.

Is "that got me thinking" formal or informal?

"That got me thinking" is generally considered informal and is best suited for conversational or less formal writing. For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "this prompted further investigation" or "this led me to consider."

What's the difference between "that got me thinking" and "that made me realize"?

"That got me thinking" implies a process of reflection and consideration, while "that made me realize" suggests a sudden understanding or awareness. "That got me thinking" is about prompting a train of thought, whereas "that made me realize" is about reaching a conclusion.